3/3/23 Field Journal: Centennial Woods

3:40-4:40pm, 3/3/2023, Centennial Woods Natural Area, Burlington, VT, cloudy with snow covered ground, ~33 degrees fahrenheit, forested area near stream.

On this trip to Centennial Woods Natural Area in Burlington, VT, I focused on the evolution and ecology of bird species in the winter season. One of the things I looked at was what different bird species do to produce/retain body heat, as these cold Vermont winters can be brutal. It always fascinated me how birds could survive such harsh environmental conditions, so it was super fascinating to see. I noticed that I observed more birds in heavily wooded areas and less near open spaces. I can imagine this is to shield them from the wind and to seek more warmth. I also saw a lot more activity near cavities and snags in logs and dead trees which is where a lot of birds reside for a warmer space.

The birds seemed to be budgeting their time based on energy. Since it is winter, birds seem to be conserving their energy by staying in so I did not see them flying around much—mainly just hearing their calls from tree to tree. However, when they are moving around, they are looking for food. In the winter, it is harder to find food as it is more scarce. However, I noticed that birds look for critters living in trees and also eat seeds from plants that are not covered by snow. The birds primarily look for foods high in energy in the winter which is found in seeds. In contrast, there are much more fruits and bugs available for birds in the summer, so the diet differs tremendously based on the season. It is also currently not breeding season, so energy is not spent by birds there. In the winter, their energy it seems is mainly spent by searching for food and by keeping themselves warm.

In the Centennial Woods Nature Area specifically, I would say various birds are staying overnight in snags and cavities. When on my excursion, I observed hundreds of dead trees with cavities in them where many bird species could survive overnight. I think that this is common in heavily forested areas, as it is a great place for birds to stay warm over cold winter nights and through harsh environmental conditions. Overall this was a very interesting outing, and I found out a lot about the evolution and ecology of birds through my observations today!

הועלה ב-מרץ 4, 2023 02:02 לפנה"צ על ידי ewoolf1